How to Become a Mechanical Engineer?

Mechanical engineering is considered as one of the oldest fields of engineering. Fondly called the ‘mother’ branch of engineering, the scope of mechanical engineering has increased beyond its traditional boundaries. Now mechanical engineers are paying more attention towards different areas of research like nanotechnology, environmental conservation, bio-medical, etc. Due to the ever increasing scope of this particular job profile, there is a high demand of engineers who can play an important role in the product development and also get into the financial aspect of products. In a nutshell, this branch of engineering offers a wide range of mechanical engineering job options to students who want to build a promising and stimulating career.

Qualifications required to build a career in this field of engineering
Clearing 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry and Maths (PCM) as main subjects is the first step which you need to take in order to build a career as the engineer. In order to become eligible for the graduate program, you should at least score 60% marks. In India, there are various reputed colleges which are imparting engineering education. However, these colleges conduct entrance examinations and the admission is given only after clearing the exam. Some of the common entrance examinations are-

1= The Joint Entrance Examination for IITs (IITJEE) for admission to various IITs
2= All-India Engineering Entrance Exam (AIEEE) for admission to various National Institutes of Technology or regional engineering colleges

Apart from the above engineering examinations, many private colleges conduct their own entrance exams and provide admissions on the basis of exam results only. There are diploma courses also, which you can pursue after completing your class 10th with 50%. You can also go for the associate membership qualification from the Institute of Mechanical Engineers. After completing your degree program in engineering, you can also go for the post-graduate program like ME/MTech program. If you want to do a PhD course then you should appear for the Graduate Aptitude Test for Engineers (GATE), which is conducted by IITs.

Where to search mechanical engineering jobs?
As mechanical engineering is the broadest field of engineering, therefore, the job prospects for skilled engineers are also abundant. Engineers are required for designing, testing, manufacturing and installing a wide range of machines that are then used across different industries. Due to the intricate nature of this job, it is possible to find mechanical engineering jobs both in private and government sector undertakings.

There are various industries where you can find ample of jobs. It includes space research, air conditioning, bio-medical, aeronautical industry. Similarly, in the government sector, there is a high demand of engineers. They work as consultants & technical experts and help in the smooth functioning of different government-run projects. Even employment opportunities can be explored in the education sector also, where after earning the post-graduate degree in engineering, engineers can work as lecturers.

How much can you earn as a mechanical engineer?
On an average, a fresher mechanical engineer can earn between Rs 25,000-35,000/month. Those engineers who are holding high degrees like a post-graduate degree from a reputed college like IIT, can easily earn Rs 30-40 lakh/annum.